Automatic controlling device for electric water heaters



' Jan. l, 1929.

3 6 4,1 w L. L A T E S S A R G A. A.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS Original Filed Aug. 50, 1926 akamu PatentedpJan. 1, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,697,463 PATENT OFFICE.

ANGEL A. GRASSI AND RAEAEL DE OLIVEIR-A CZAR, OF BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS.

Original application filed August 30, 1926,k Serial No. 132,498.

February 18, 1928.

Our present inventionrelates to an automatic electric water heater, its main object being to provide an electric water heater for any suitable use, which includes an automatic device for controlling the electric circuit. This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 132,@98, led August 30, 1926, and this application relates to the automaticv device.

In order that our invention may be clearly understood and easily carried vinto practice, a preferred embodiment thereof has been shownin the appended drawings wherein,

Figure l is a vertical section of the apparatus showing the main elements thereof.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the heater, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof.

Similar characters of reference denote the same or like parts throughout the said drawings.

The apparatus has been shown without its outer envelope or casing, and it is obvious that y .changes in size may be introduced without departing from the scope of the invention.

The apparatus includes several elements. The heating tube proper consists of a glass tube T through. which water circulates and within which a resistance B is placed, said resistance consisting of several Wound up wires and being fixed at its ends to the metal ytube C. This tube C consists of two electrically insulated portions. The "glass tube iits within the meta-l tube with an intermediate rubber or insulating tube G fixed under pressure. S is the outlet for the hot water and S the inlet, they being respectively at the upper part and at the lower part yof the heating tube.

Under the term automatic we desire to indicate the device by which the electric circuit and the water flow are automatically regulated. H is the body portion of the automatic device having an inner cylindrical section in which a piston D having a Contact member Z thereon is capable of reciprocating. Said piston has a rod E secured thereto and is held in its upper position by the action of the springs R. The rod E passes through a stuiiing-box K in order to avoid the escape of water which enters the body of the automatic device through the tube F. N is a metal cross piece mounted upon the rod. E and supporting at its ends the insulatlng pieces P on which the upper contact members O are fixed, said contacts being the terminals for the v Divided and this application filed Serial No. 255,366.

wires A, through which current is fed tothe apparatus.

On the body of the automatic device there is a metal piece U on which two insulating members Q are fixed, said members carrying the contacts S placed below and separated from the contacts O. One of the said contacts is connected by a wire V to the copper portion of the tube C while the other contact S is connected by means of another wire V to a contact member I placed within the device at the bottom thereof and electrically insulated therefrom by the pieces J and L.

The tube F is connected to a water pipe while the outlet S is connected to one or more cocks.

When the cocks are closed the parts will be in the positions shown in the drawings, the heater and the automatic device will be full off water and the electric circuit will be cut o When a tap or cock is opened, the water, due to the pressure set up by the circulation enters the automatic device and presses down the piston D against the action of the springs R and keeps it down so long as the water flows, that is so long as any of the cocks lare open.

In these circumstances, the upper contacts O will contact with the contacts S one of which leads to the upper end of the resistance B while the other is connected to the contact I, against which the contact Z of the piston closes, thereby closing also the electric circuit to the lower end of the said resistance B. At the same time the water flows through the device and circulates up to the heating tube through S', and issuing as hot water through the upper end ofthe said tube.

When the tap is closed, the water remains stationary within the apparatus and automatic device, and the piston D is raised by the springs R, thereby cutting ofi1 the current first between the contacts Z and I and then at the contacts O and S. No sparking will f take place as the first breaking off of the circuit takes place in the water within the automat-ic device. It is obvious that the closing and cutting olf of the electric circuit takes place only under'the control of the flowing water and that should there not be any Water, the electric circuit will not be closed even when one of the taps or cocks is opened.

The apparatus according to our present invention has the great advantage of not requiring any electric switch and that it may be connected to any suitable number of taps or cocks.

It is obvious that many constructional changes may be introduced Without departing from-the. scope of our presentinvention which has been clearly set forth in the appended` claims.

W'e claim as our invention:

l. An automatic device for controlling the electric-'circuit of an electric heater, comprising a body portion adapted to have'water circulatedtherethrough; va piston in said body portion having a contact member thereon; a rod secured to said piston; a cross piece secured to said rod and having a pair of contacts Asecured thereto; a pairV oi contacts mounted on the body portion adapted to cooperate with said contacts on the crosspiece; and a contaot'mountedin the bottom of the body portion cooperating' with said 'contact member on the piston and electrically connected with'one oi the contacts on the body portion7 the contacts onthe piston and'in the bottom oi the body portion breakingcontact before the contact Aoi the pairs oic contacts are brokennihen'the'Water ceases to .flow through the body portion.y

` 2. ein .automatic device for controlling the electric circuit of an electric hea-ter comprising a body portion adapted to have Water circulated therethrough; `a piston in said body portion'having a contact member thereon; a rod secured-to said piston; .a spring for said rod; a crosspiece secuiedtoV said rod and having apair of contacts secured thereto; a pair of contacts mounted on `the body portion adapted to cooperate with said contacts on 'the crosspiece ;^and a contact mounted .in the bottom of the body portion cooperating With said Contact member on the piston and electrically connected with one or the contacts on the body portion7 the contacts on the piston andin'the bottom ot' the body portion breaking contactibeiore' the contact of the pairs of contacts areV broken When the Water ceases to fiowthrough the body portion.

3. fin-automatic device for controlling the electric circuit 'of an electricheatercomprising aibody portion adapted to have Water circulatedtherethrough; a. piston in said body lportion having a contact member thereon; a

rod secured to said piston; a spring for said rod; a cross piece secured to said rod and .having a pair of contacts secured thereto; a pair of contacts mounted on the body .portion adapted to cooperate with said contacts on the cross piece; a contact .mounted in the bottom of the body 1portion cooperating with Vsaid contact member on the piston and electrically connected `with one of the contacts on the body portion; the contacts on the piston and Ain the bottom of the body portion breaking contact 'before the contact of the pairs of-contacts are broken When the Water ceases to ow through'thetbody portionj; and

an inlet and an outlet on thebody portion for p the Water.

4. An automatic -device for vcontrolling .the

electric circuit of an electricheater, comprisingfa'bodyportion adapted tohave Water circulated therethrough; a piston in said body `poftion having afcontact member thereon; a

tion breaking'contact before the contact 'on' the cross pieceand its Acooperating contact break Vcontact 'when the lWater 1 ceases to Elovv throughlthe body portion p 5. An automatic device'ior controlling-the electric circuit of an electric heater, comprising a-body-portion adaptedtoha-ve Water circulated therethrough; la Ipiston `in said tbody portion having .a contactymember thereon; a cross piece associatedyv'ith saidk piston and having Aa contact secured thereto; a contact mounted yon 7the Vbody portion adapted' to cooperate With the contact on the cross piecegya Waterin'let pipe' at thetop oflthe'bodyportion and a Wateroutletpipe at-thebottom ofthe body portion,`thepiston beinglnormallylat the top ofthe .bodyv portionivhen'the Water xis not vflowing.through thebody portion; and-a con- .tact mounted inthe Ybottom of' the ibody portion cooperating'withsaidcontact-member on Athe pistonpand 'electrically connected "With the'contact on'the body 1portion,the contacts on the piston and in the bottom :of the Ybody portion :breaking 'Contact before 'the -Contact on kthe cross'piece and itsicooperating contact break contact 'Whenthe Water'ceaseszto fioW through the fbodyl portion from'the Iinlet into theoutlet.

6. An automatic'device forcontrollingthe eiectric circuit of Aan `electric Water heal-cer, comprising a body portion adapted to have Water circulated therethrough; a piston in said body portion having a. `contact 'member thereon; 'n crosspiece associated with said through the body portion; V.and a contact mounted'in the bottomoi the "body portion cooperating Witlrsaidzcontact Vmember on the Vpiston and eiectricaily connected v`.With =.the Contact `on the body gportion, 'the contacts on the pistona'ndin the bottom o-the'body'portion breaking contact before the contacts on the cross piece and its cooperating contacts break contact when the Water ceasesvto flow through the body portion from the inlet into the outlet,

7. An automatic device for controlling the electric circuit of an electric Water heater, comprising a body portion adapted to have Water circulated therethrough by means of an inlet and an outlet; a piston in said body portion and adapted to make an electrical contact with the bottom of said body portion; a rod secured to said piston; a contact on said rod adapted to cooperate with a contact 0n the body portion; and means for Vnormally keeping said contacts separated when no Water is flowing through the body portion, said means acting to separate the contact on the piston before the contact on the piston rod separates from the contact on the body portion when the Water ceases to flow through the body portion.

8. An automatic device for controlling the electric circit of an electric Water heater, comprising a body portion adapted to have Water circulated therethrough by means of an inlet and an outlet; a piston in said body portion and adapted to make an electrical contact with the bottom of said body portion; a rod secured to said piston; a contact on said rod adapted to cooperate with a contact on the body portion; and springs for normally keeping said contacts separated when no Water is flowing through the body portion, said springs acting to separate the Contact on the piston before the contact on the piston rod separates from the contact on the body portion when the Water ceases to flow through the body portion.

In testimony whereof we aix our signatures.

ANGEL A. GRASSI. RAFAEL DE oLIvEIRA CZAR. 

